Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria Salary in San Jose, CA
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area earn a median $51,880 a year — 39% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $42,029 take-home, or $3,502 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median cooks, institution and cafeteria salary in San Jose, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$4,046
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,217
- Medicare (1.45%)$752
- California income tax$1,162
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$674
- Take-home pay$42,029
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 6.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay by experience in San Jose, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $45,660 | $21.95 | $37,459 | $3,122 |
| 25th percentile | $48,630 | $23.38 | $39,655 | $3,305 |
| Median (50th) | $51,880 | $24.94 | $42,029 | $3,502 |
| 75th percentile | $58,720 | $28.23 | $47,025 | $3,919 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $67,750 | $32.57 | $53,404 | $4,450 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $51,880 buys in San Jose, CA
Prices in San Jose, CA are 10.4% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 2.12× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median cooks, institution and cafeteria's $42,029 take-home pay has the buying power of $38,062 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria jobs are about as common in San Jose, CA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.82).
Best-paying cities for cooks, institution and cafeteria, adjusted for cost of living
San Jose, CA ranks #2 of 37 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $51,530 | $43,584 | $39,218 |
| 2 | San Jose, CA | $51,880 | $42,029 | $38,062 |
| 3 | Boston, MA | $48,530 | $38,967 | $35,992 |
| 4 | Denver, CO | $45,070 | $37,119 | $35,090 |
| 5 | Minneapolis, MN | $44,830 | $36,621 | $34,936 |
| 6 | San Francisco, CA | $49,140 | $40,027 | $34,622 |
| 7 | San Diego, CA | $47,100 | $38,537 | $34,443 |
| 8 | Riverside, CA | $44,470 | $36,565 | $34,352 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 37 metros →
About the job: cooks, institution and cafeteria
Prepare and cook large quantities of food for institutions, such as schools, hospitals, or cafeterias.
- Typical education
- No formal educational credential
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +2.8% (about average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salaries elsewhere in California
- San Francisco, CA — $49,140
- San Diego, CA — $47,100
- Riverside, CA — $44,470
- Los Angeles, CA — $45,400
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cooks, institution and cafeteria make in San Jose, CA?
The median cooks, institution and cafeteria salary in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area is $51,880 a year, or about $24.94 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $48,630 and $58,720.
What is a cooks, institution and cafeteria’s take-home pay in San Jose, CA?
On the median $51,880 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $42,029 a year ($3,502 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,837 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Jose, CA a good place to work as a cooks, institution and cafeteria?
Pay here is 39% above the national median of $37,450. Local prices are 10.4% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $38,062 would in a typical U.S. city. San Jose, CA ranks #2 of 37 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a cooks, institution and cafeteria afford rent in San Jose, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in San Jose, CA is $2,957 a month ($3,464 for two bedrooms) — 84% of a median cooks, institution and cafeteria’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in San Jose, CA
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $55,520
- Cooks, Fast Food — $47,220
- Cooks, Restaurant — $47,170
- Food Preparation Worker — $45,580
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $44,570
- Dishwasher — $43,960
- Bartender — $42,270
- Waiter and Waitress — $41,920
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $41,710